Introduction
Babylonia is one of ancient states.
At the very beginning of its existence, the territory of Babylonia was limited to lands located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. When Babylonia reached the peak of its forces, it captured (in whole or in part) the lands of southern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq.
The state got its name from the name of its capital - Babylon.
Early history
Previously, on the site of Babylon was the Sumerian city of Kadingir (the name translates as “gate of God” (in Akadian it sounds like “bab-ilu” (from which the name Babylon comes).
At the end of the 3rd millennium BC, the nomadic tribes of the Amorites (who are part of the Semitic group of peoples) penetrated Mesopotamia from the west, creating a number of states in the region. As time passes leading role The Babylonian dynasty of the Amorites began to play in Mesopotamia. The first king of this dynasty was Sumuabum (but Babylonia was able to reach the peak of power only in the reign of Hammurabi).
For today's person, information about the structure of the state, the economic situation, and the history of Babylonia came through the preserved clay tablets with cuneiform texts applied to them. Such tablets were in the Babylonian temples, as well as in the royal archives and libraries.
On them the Babylonian scribes immortalized various myths, legends, tales.
The development of science in Babylon was facilitated by the construction of temples and palaces, as well as the practice of an extensive irrigation system of agriculture (which implied the need to measure fields). Main well advanced sciences in Babylonia were mathematics and astronomy.
It was in Babylon that, thanks to the observation of the heavenly bodies, the first accurate calendar of that time was invented (the error of this calendar in relation to solar year was only 7 minutes).
There were also advances in medicine and geography. The maps created by the Babylonians covered the lands from Urartu to Egypt.
During the reign of Hammurabi, the myth of global flood(another important document is a stele with a set of laws of Hammurabi, which regulated various aspects of the life of society and the state).
Middle Babylonian kingdom
After the death of Hammurabi, the history of Babylon began a period of decline. The successors of Hammurabi could not resist the onslaught of the Hittites, who plundered Babylon. At the same time, Babylonia is invaded hill tribes Kassites (who eventually conquered Babylon).
After the conquest by the Kassites in the history of Babylonia, the period of the reign of the Kassite dynasty began (or in other words, the era of the Middle Babylonian kingdom). During this period, the Babylonians began to use horses and mules in economic and military affairs, and a plow also appeared.
The Kassites adopted over high culture Babylon and patronized the traditional deities of the Babylonians.
They also maintained relations with other kingdoms of that period. Evidence of this are the Egyptian inscriptions, which say that Babylon brought horses, chariots, various bronze and lapis lazuli items as gifts to Egypt. As response gestures, gold, furniture, Jewelry. Relations between Egypt and Babylon were consistently peaceful (this is also evidenced by the facts of the betrothal of the daughters of the Kassite kings to the Egyptian pharaohs).
But in the 13th century BC, a period of decline began, which ends with the conquest of Babylonia by Elam. Temples and cities were plundered, and a governor was put in place of the last Babylonian king (captured with his whole family).
However, the resistance of the Babylonians to the invaders continues until the middle of the 12th century BC (the main center of resistance was the city of Issin). The Elamites were expelled, and Babylon gained independence.
During the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar 1, a short period of prosperity began in the history of Babylon. In the battle that unfolded at the fortress of Der, Nebuchadnezzar defeated the forces of the Elamites. Then the Babylonian army invades Elam and ravages it (as a result of which Elam will disappear from the historical arena for several centuries).
But Babylonia still had two more threats - the tribes of the Chaldeans, who settled on the coast of the Persian Gulf, and Assyria, which had already subjugated the north of Babylonia, and dreamed of conquering the south.
Neo-Babylonian kingdom
The first blow came from the Chaldeans. They crossed the Persian Gulf, and by the beginning of the 9th century they had captured the southern part of Babylonia. Thus, the period of the Chaldean dynasty (or the Neo-Babylonian kingdom) began in the history of Babylon. The first king of this dynasty was Nabopolassar. He expanded the boundaries of Babyonia, annexing the lands of the kingdoms of Uruk and Nippur (then in decline). He was also able to besiege and ravage the capital of Assyria, Nineveh (virtually destroying the Assyrian state).
Then the campaigns of the Babylonians began in Syria and Palestine (by that time occupied by Egypt). In the Battle of Kerkemish, the Babylonian army under the command of Nebuchadnezzar 2 (the son of Nabopolassar, to whom his father gave control of all the armies of Babylon) were defeated by the Egyptians. Then, having occupied a number of cities and fortresses, Syria and Palestine became part of the Babylonian kingdom.
After the death of his father, Nebuchadnezzar II becomes the new king. Under him, the lands of Judah became part of Babylon. Babylon itself was experiencing its new rise.
After the death of Nebuchadnezzar 2, Nabonidus was imprisoned by the nobility and priesthood. He annexed Central Arabia to Babylonia, as well as part of the Median kingdom.
At this time, the Persians began to gain strength. They conquered the Median and Lydian kingdoms. Then the Persians turned their eyes to Babylon.
Bypassing the walls of Nebuchadnezzar, and defeating the Babylonians, thrown forward to repel the Persian invasion, the Persian army, led by the Persian king Cyrus, approached Babylon and, after a short siege, took the city.
Repeated attempts by the inhabitants of Babylon to free themselves from Persian domination failed (the reasons for this were the betrayal of the nobility and priesthood, favored by the new owners of the city, and the power of the Persian state).
In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great captured Babylon. After the collapse of the Macedonian empire, Babylon becomes part of the Seleucid kingdom. In the era of the highest flowering of the power of the Roman Empire, the lands of Babylon become part of the empire.
There are many semi-legendary periods in the history of mankind. The cities and kingdoms that existed then are sometimes shrouded in a host of myths and traditions. Even professional archaeologists and historians have little data relating to those times, let alone ordinary people. Do you know when it was formed Babylonian kingdom?
Babylon is a city of biblical proportions, it is constantly mentioned by almost all outstanding thinkers, scientists and military leaders of those years, but the history of this amazing monument of ancient civilizations is much less often told. In order to dispel the veil of secrecy over this story, we have prepared this article. Read and find out!
Prerequisites for the emergence
IN XIX-XX centuries before the birth of Christ, the Sumero-Akkadian kingdom, which was located on the territory of Mesopotamia, collapsed. As a result of its collapse, many other smaller states were formed.
The city of Lars in the north immediately declared itself independent. The kingdom of Mari was formed on the Euphrates River, Ashur arose on the Tigris, and the state of Eshnunna appeared in the Diyala valley. It was then that the rise of the city of Babylon began, the name of which can be translated as the Gate of God. The Amorite (first Babylonian) dynasty then ascended the throne. Historians believe that its representatives ruled from 1894 to 1595 BC. There is no absolutely exact data, but King Sumuabum is considered to be its founder. That's when the Babylonian kingdom was formed. Of course, in those years, he was still far from full prosperity and power.
Advantages
Babylon favorably differed from many of its neighbors in its position: it was equally well suited for both defense and expansion into the territory of the opposing kingdoms. It was located in the place where the majestic Tigris merged with the Euphrates. It was full of water that was used in irrigation systems, the most important trade arteries of that time immediately converged.
The heyday of the city is associated with the name of the famous Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC), who was not only a talented manager, but also a scientist, astronomer, commander and sophist. First, he enters into a military alliance with Larsa in order to free his hands to attack the southern cities. Soon Hammurabi concludes an allied agreement with Mari, where at that time the friendly-minded king Zimrilim ruled. With his help, the ruler of Babylon completely defeated and subjugated Eshnunna. Simply put, the Babylonian kingdom was formed in the period from the 20th to the 19th century BC, after which it quickly began to gain weight in the political niche of that time.
After that, Marie did not need Hammurabi: he tore up the allied treaty and attacked the possessions of yesterday's partner. At first he managed to quickly subdue the city, and even Zimlirim remained on his throne. But later he did not like being a pawn, and therefore he rebelled. In response, Babylon not only reconquered the city, but also razed its walls and the palace of the ruler to the ground. By that time, the once mighty Assyria remained in the North, but its rulers immediately recognized themselves as governors of Babylon.
That's when it formed modern understanding this word. It was large and powerful, its rulers welcomed scientists, engineers and architects, philosophers and doctors.
Laws of Hammurabi
But the king of the Babylonian kingdom, Hammurabi, is largely known not for his conquests, but for the code of laws that he personally issued:
- In the event that the builder who built the house did it poorly and the building collapsed, killing its owner, the builder should be executed.
- The doctor who performed an unsuccessful operation lost his right hand.
- A free man who sheltered a slave in his house will be executed.
These laws of the Babylonian kingdom were carved on huge basalt pillars that stood at all ends of the Babylonian kingdom.
What was the rise of Babylon?
During the time of this ruler, agriculture began to develop rapidly in those parts. The scientists of Babylon made great strides in the field of irrigation of desert lands: one of the canals was so large that it was respectfully called the “River of Hammurabi”.
No less active pace was the formation of cattle breeding. More and more artisans appear in the state. Growing and expanding internal and international trade. In particular, at that time it was this country that became the main center for the export of expensive leather, oil and dates. Metals, ceramics and slaves flowed like a river to the domestic market. In a word, the Babylonian kingdom flourished under Hammurabi.
Social features
It is believed that there were three First, free people in the country. This layer was called "avelum", which meant "man". Children free people until adulthood they were called "mar avelim" - "child of man". A craftsman and a warrior, a merchant and a state clerk could belong to this social stratum. In a word, there were no caste prejudices, the laws of the Babylonian kingdom said that anyone could be free.
There was another class dependent people(not slaves!), who were called "mushkenum" - "leaning "employees". Simply put, people who worked on the royal land were dependent. They should not be confused with slaves: the "leaning" had property, their rights were defended in court they had their own slaves.
Finally, the lowest stratum of society, without which the Babylonian kingdom could not do - slaves, wardum. They could be reached in the following ways:
- If the person was a prisoner of war.
- Debtors who could not pay their debts.
- Became slaves by the verdict of the court (for some serious misconduct).
The peculiarity of the Babylonian slaves was that they could have some kind of property. If the slave owner had children from his slave, then they (with the consent of the father) could well become his official heirs with obtaining the status free man. In other words, in contrast to the same ancient india, in Babylon, slaves could hope for a serious improvement in their debtor, who worked off the debt, became free again. A valuable prisoner of war could buy his freedom. It was worse for criminals who, with rare exceptions, became slaves for life.
State structure
The king, who was at the head of the state, had "divine", unlimited power. He personally owned about 30-50% of all land in the country. The king could take care of their use himself, or he could rent them out. The execution of royal orders and laws was monitored by the royal court.
The tax office was responsible for collecting taxes. They were charged in silver, as well as in the form of natural products - for example, grain. They took taxes on livestock, handicraft products. To ensure unquestioning obedience to the royal power, the state used detachments of heavy and light warriors, redum and bairum. Ever since the formation of the Babylonian kingdom, the city of Babylon has always attracted professional warriors: they were favored here, they received honor and respect. It is not surprising that even during the period of decline, the army of the state was able to delay the fall of the country for a long time.
For service, a good soldier could easily get a house with a garden, a considerable plot of land and cattle. He paid for it only with good service. The misfortune of Babylon from the very beginning was a gigantic bureaucratic apparatus, whose representatives monitored the execution of royal orders on the ground. The officials of the sovereign, shakkanakku, were supposed to organize effective interaction between the tsarist administration and local self-government bodies. The latter included community councils and councils of elders, rabianums.
Religion tended towards monotheism: despite the existence of diversified deities, there was one main god - Marduk, who was considered the creator of all things, was responsible for the fate of people, animals and plants, for the entire Babylonian kingdom.
First fall
During the reign of Hammurabi's son, Samsu-iluna (1749-1712 BC), the internal contradictions. From the south, the state began to be pressed by the Elamites, who captured the cities of the Sumerians one after another. The city of Isin declared independence, and King Ilumailu became the founder of a new dynasty. A new state, Mitanni, is also emerging in the Northwest.
It was a heavy blow, as Babylon was cut off from the most important trade routes that led to Asia Minor and on the Mediterranean coast. Finally, militant Kassite tribes began to regularly raid. In general, the entire history of the Babylonian kingdom clearly shows that a weakened state instantly becomes the prey of stronger and more successful neighbors.
Point in 1595 BC. e. put the Hittites, who defeated the army and captured Babylon. Thus ended the Old Babylonian period, which lasted only three hundred years. The first dynasty ceased to exist. The formation of the Babylonian kingdom of the "Kassite model" began.
Kassite dynasty
The Kassites themselves came from the many hill tribes that became active immediately after the death of Hammurabi. Around 1742 BC. e. their leader Gandash invaded the territory of the kingdom and immediately declared himself "King of the four corners of the world." But in reality, the Kassites succeeded in subjugating the entire kingdom to themselves only after the successful campaign of the Hittites. They immediately brought a lot of new things to the military doctrine of Babylon, starting to actively use the cavalry. But in agriculture, some stagnation began. The conquerors favorably accepted the rich and ancient Babylonian culture.
Moreover, King Agum II was able to return the statues of the god Marduk and the goddess Tsarpanit, which were captured by the Hittites. The Kassites showed themselves to be excellent rulers, under whom temples were actively built and restored, culture and science developed rapidly. Pretty soon they were completely assimilated by the Babylonians.
However, they were not very good politicians and warriors. The ancient Babylonian kingdom quickly becomes dependent on Egypt, and soon on the state of Mitanni with the Hittite kingdom. Assyria is developing rapidly, whose troops already in the 13th century BC inflict a series of painful defeats on the Kassite Babylon. In 1155, the conquering dynasty also ceased to exist, losing to the Assyrians.
Interim period, reign of Nebuchadnezzar I
The Assyrians, who closely watched their decrepit neighbor, did not fail to take advantage of his ever-increasing weakness. They were also helped by the aspirations of the Elamites, who regularly began to invade the territory of Babylon. Already in middle of XII century BC, they were able to completely break his resistance, and the last king of the Kassites, Ellil-nadin-ahhe, was captured. The Elamites at that time continued to make military campaigns in other regions of the country.
The city of Isin, which was independent for some time, managed to accumulate strength at that time, and therefore took over the baton in the fight against the enemy invasion. The pinnacle of his power was the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar I (1126-1105 BC), who Once again led the state to flourish (short-term). Near the fortress of Der, his troops inflicted a severe defeat on the Elamites, and then, having invaded Elam, enslaved him.
Fighting the Arameans
Around the middle of the 11th century BC, the nomadic Aramaic tribes became a real curse for the Babylonians and Assyrians. In the face of this danger, irreconcilable rivals united several times, forming strong military alliances. Despite this, after three centuries the enterprising Arameans managed to firmly settle on the northwestern borders of the Babylonian kingdom.
However, not all tribes caused so many problems. At about the same time in the life of the state began to play significant role people of the Chaldeans. In those centuries they lived along the shores of the Persian Gulf, in the lower reaches of the Euphrates and the Tigris. Already in the ninth century, they firmly occupied the southern part of the Babylonian kingdom and began to move south, gradually assimilating with the Babylonians. Like the Kassites in the recent past, they preferred to be engaged in cattle breeding and hunting. Agriculture played a much smaller role in their lives.
In those years, the country was divided into 14 districts. Starting from the XII century BC, Babylon again becomes the capital. As before, the king had vast allotments of land in his hands, which he presented to soldiers for their service. In the army, in addition to the traditional infantry, cavalry and war chariot squads began to play a huge role, which at that time were extremely effective on the battlefield. But the borders of the Babylonian kingdom were already beginning to be attacked by old enemies ...
Assyrian invasion
From the end of the 9th century, the Assyrians again took up their own, increasingly invading the country. Assyria itself gradually acquired the features of a powerful and strong state. In the middle of the 7th century BC, their king Tiglath-Pileser the Third invades the northern borders of Babylon, inflicting severe defeats on the Chaldeans. In 729, the kingdom was completely captured for the umpteenth time.
However, the Assyrians (contrary to their custom) retained a separate status of Babylon. But during the time of Sargon the Second, they lost control of the newly conquered lands for a time. This is due to the fact that the Chaldean sovereign Marduk-apla-iddin declared himself the sole king of the country, capturing its capital. He entered into an alliance with the Elamites, his recent enemies. At first, the allies were successful, but soon Sargon, greatly hurt and annoyed by what had happened, sent his best troops to suppress the uprising, and then he himself was crowned in Babylon, finally strengthening his royal status.
At the beginning of 700-703, the restless Marduk-apla-iddin again tried to go against Assyria, but this time his idea did not end in anything good for the country. In 692 BC. e kingdom enters into a military alliance with the Arameans and Elamites. At the battle of Halul, the Assyrians and the Babylonians suffered the same heavy losses neither side had any clear success.
But two years later, the king of Assyria, Sinankhcherib, laid siege to Babylon. A year later, the city fell and a terrible massacre began. Most of the inhabitants were killed, the rest became slaves. The once majestic capital was completely ruined and flooded. At that time, the map of the Babylonian kingdom was beaten, the state ceased to exist. However, not for long.
Restoration of Babylon
Soon the successor of Sinankhherib, Esarhaddon, who did not welcome the "excesses" of his predecessor, ascended the throne. New king not only ordered the restoration of the destroyed city, but also freed many of its inhabitants and ordered them to return home.
Shamash-shum-ukin, who ruled the country as a governor, became king. But in 652, he, desiring universal power, makes an alliance with the Arabs, Arameans and Elamites, after which he again declares war on Assyria. The battle again took place at the Der fortress and again no one could win a convincing victory. The Assyrians went to the trick: arranging palace coup at Elom, they put a mighty ally of the Babylonians out of action. After that, they besieged Babylon and in 648 BC staged a brutal massacre of all the surviving inhabitants.
Fall of Assyria and New Babylon
Despite this, the desire to throw off the oppression of the cruel Assyrians did not weaken. Around 626 BC, another uprising broke out, led by the Chaldean Nabopolassar (Naboo-apla-utzur). He again made an alliance with Elam, who had already recovered from the intrigues of the Assyrians, after which allied forces Nevertheless, they managed to inflict a number of serious defeats on the common enemy. In October 626, Nabopolassar was recognized by the Babylonian nobility, after which he was crowned in the city, founding a new dynasty.
But the rebels managed to capture the first major city - Uruk - only 10 years later. They immediately tried to capture the Assyrian Ashur, but failed to achieve success. Help came from nowhere. In 614, the Medes began to seize the provinces of Assyria, with whom the Babylonians soon entered into an alliance. Already in 612 they, the Medes and the Scythians laid siege to Nineveh, the capital of the enemy. The city fell, and all its inhabitants were massacred. Since then, the boundaries of the Babylonian kingdom under Hammurabi II began to expand rapidly.
In 609 BC, the remnants of the Assyrian army were defeated. In 605, the Babylonians successfully capture Syria and Palestine, which Egypt claimed at that time. Then Nebuchadnezzar II ascended the throne of Babylon. By 574 BC. he succeeded in capturing Jerusalem and Tire. The era of prosperity has begun. It was then that the famous incredibly developed science, architecture and politics were laid. Thus, the Babylonian kingdom was formed in 605 for the second time.
However, the era of prosperity ended soon enough. Other opponents appeared on the borders of the state, the Persians. Unable to withstand the confrontation with them, in 482 Babylon finally turned into one of the Persian satrapies.
Now you know when the Babylonian kingdom was formed. We hope that the article was interesting.
Babylon is the largest city ancient Mesopotamia, the capital of the Babylonian kingdom in the 19th-6th centuries. BC.,
The most important commercial and cultural center of Western Asia. Babylon comes from the Akkadian words "Bab-ilu" - "Gate of God". Ancient Babylon arose on the site of the more ancient Sumerian city of Kadingir, called
whose name was subsequently transferred to Babylon. The first mention of Babylon is found in
inscriptions of the Akkadian king Sharkalisharri (23rd century BC). In the 22nd century Babylon was conquered and sacked by Shulgi,
king of Ur, the Sumerian state that subjugated all of Mesopotamia. In the 19th century coming from
Amorites (a Semitic people who came from the southwest) the first king of the first Babylonian dynasty
Sumuabum conquered Babylon and made it the capital of the Babylonian kingdom. At the end of the 8th c. Babylon was conquered
van by the Assyrians and as punishment for the rebellion in 689 it was completely destroyed by the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Che-
9 years later, the Assyrians began to rebuild Babylon. Babylon reached its greatest dawn during the period
New Babylonian Kingdom (626-538 BC). Nebuchadnezzar II (604-561 BC) adorned Babylon with luxury
nye buildings and powerful defensive structures. In 538, Babylon was taken by the troops
Persian king Cyrus, in 331 Alexander the Great took possession of it, in 312 Babylon was captured by one of
commanders of Alexander the Great Seleucus, who resettled most its inhabitants are mainly
the city of Seleucia, which he bathed nearby. By 2nd c. AD only ruins remained on the site of Babylon.
From 1899 to 1914, systematic excavations were carried out at the site of Babylon by a German archaeologist
Koldevey, who discovered many monuments of the New Babylonian kingdom. Judging by the data of these
pok, Babylon, located on two sides of the Euphrates and cut by canals, in this era occupied
rectangular territory, the total length of the sides of which reached 8150 meters. On the east coast
Euphrates was the main part of the city with the temple of the god Marduk, the patron of Babylon, which was called
“E-sagila” (House of raising the head), and a large seven-story tower called “E-temenanki”
(House of the foundation of heaven and earth). To the north was separated from the city by a canal royal palace with "hanging-
chimi gardens” on artificial terraces built by Nebuchadnezzar II. The whole city was surrounded by three
walls, of which one reached 7 m thick, the other - 7.8 m, and the third - 3.3 m. One of these walls was
fortified with towers. A complex system of hydraulic structures made it possible to flood the surroundings of Va-
vilona. A “sacred road” for religious processions passed through the whole city past the palace, leading to the temple of Marduk. The road, paved with huge stone slabs and bordered by fortifications
us, decorated with images of lions, led through the monumental fortress gates, which bore the name
goddess Ishtar.
Babylonia
Babylonia is a primitive slaveholding (early slaveholding) state of the Ancient East,
located along the middle and lower reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. It got its name from the city
Babylon, which was the largest political and cultural center a state that has reached its
flourished twice - in the 18th and 7th centuries BC. Babylonia proper occupied only middle part
Mesopotamia, from the mouth of the lower Zab (a tributary of the Tigris) in the north to the city of Nippur in the south, that is, the country of Akkad,
which in ancient inscriptions was often opposed to the country of Sumer, located in southern Mesopotamia.
tamiya. To the east of Babylonia stretched mountainous regions inhabited by Elamites and other tribes.
us, and to the west stretched a vast desert steppe, in which they wandered in the 3-2nd millennium BC.
CE Amorite tribes.
Starting from the fourth millennium BC, the Sumerians lived in southern Mesopotamia, whose language
refers to ancient group languages of the peoples of Western Asia. The tribes that inhabited the middle part of the Dvu-
speech, they spoke the Akkadian language, which belongs to the Semitic group.
The oldest settlements discovered in Babylonia proper near modern Jemdet Nasr and
the ancient city of Kish, belong to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. population here
was mainly engaged in fishing, cattle breeding and agriculture. Crafts developed. Kamen-
nye tools were gradually replaced by copper and bronze ones. The need to drain swamps and create
irrigation network led to the use of slave labor in ancient times. Growth in productive
forces led to further property and social stratification. The deepening of class pro-
controversy contributed to the development of exchanges with neighboring countries, in particular with Elam, from where they brought
whether stone, wood and ore.
The aggravation of the class struggle led to the formation of the most ancient slave-owning states, which
which arose in Akkad, as well as in Sumer, in the third millennium BC. In the 24th century BC, King Sargon I (2369-2314 BC) united Sumer and Akkad under his rule and created an early slave state.
business power, the capital of which was the city of Akkad (Agade-Sippar).
The surviving documents indicate the development of an agricultural economy based entirely on
artificial irrigation. New canals were laid, the irrigation system was united in a common
donation scale. The whole economy as a whole was based on the widespread exploitation of the labor of slaves and
poor community members. Slave owners looked at slaves like cattle, imposing on them the stigma of ownership. All lands were considered to belong to the king. A significant part of them was in the use of rural communities and was cultivated by free community members. The kings alienated part of the communal lands and transferred
nobles, officials and military leaders. This is how it came about in primary form private land ownership.
Subsistence farming still largely dominated. Evaluation of various goods is sometimes
lit with silver or grain. With the increase in the number of products, barter trade developed.
la. Was introduced one system measures and weights. Some cities acquired a wider trade
chenie. With the development of slavery and trade was associated military policy. The kings of Akkad undertook
campaigns with the aim of capturing booty, slaves, as well as expanding trade relations with neighboring countries. So,
Sargon I went to war to the “silver mountains” (the city of Taurus in Asia Minor) and to the “cedar forest” (Lebanon). Development
trade accelerated the process of class stratification.
The slave-owning despotism that arose as a result of an acute class struggle, created by Sargon I and
his successors, defended the interests ruling class slave owners who sought to suppress the class
great protest of the laboring masses of the poor and slaves. The device served this purpose. state power. It was or-
a small core of permanent troops was organized, to which the militia joined during the war.
Religious ideology was used to strengthen royal power. The gods were considered patrons of the
rya, royal power and the state, the kings were called gods.
By the end of the 23rd century BC. weakened by the class struggle and long wars, the Akkadian slave-owner
The dictatorial despotism began to decline. Hill tribes dealt the final blow to Akkadian kingdom
Gutians who inhabited the Zagra region. Gutians invaded Mesopotamia, devastated the country and subjugated it
his power. The cuneiform texts describe the ruin of the country by the conquerors, who plundered the rich and ancient cities, destroyed the temples and took away the statues of the gods as trophies. Gutiam, however, did not succeed
elk to capture all of Mesopotamia. The southern part of Sumer retained some independence. As a result
During the economic decline of Akkad, devastated by the Guts, there was a shift in trade and political
centers to the south, as well as the expansion of trade in South Sumerian cities, in particular Lagash, in
which at that time was ruled by Gudea. The development of trade led to the further strengthening of Sumer. Utu-
Hegal, king of Uruk, led the fight against the Gutians. The Gutians were expelled from Mesopotamia, which contributed to
led to the formation of a large Sumero-Akkadian kingdom with its capital in Ur.
Numerous business documents of this time from the archives of Lagash, Umma and other cities indicate a significant development of the economy of large slave owners, in particular the slave-owning economy.
temples. The state becomes more and more centralized. Former independent
city rulers (patesi) become royal governors. Further development slaveholding
economy and foreign trade led to the strengthening of the aggressive policy of the kings of the 3rd dynasty of Ur
(2118-2007 BC), who united almost all of Mesopotamia under their rule. Shulgi, the king of Ur, conquered the country of Subartu in northern Mesopotamia and made campaigns in Elam, Syria, and even in eastern
part of Asia Minor.
However last bloom Sumer was short-lived. In the 21st century BC. Mesopotamia was invaded by the tribes of Elam, who captured Sumer and formed a new kingdom there, centered in Lars. From west to
The line of the Euphrates was invaded by the nomadic tribes of the Amorites, who settled in Akkad, making Isin their capital.
In this era, the Babylonian kingdom rose, founded by kings from the Amorite dynasty (1st Babylonian
dynasty). Its center was the city of Babylon, favorably located at the crossroads of trade routes.
The ancient Babylonian state reached its peak in the reign of Hammurabi (1792-50 BC).
The Babylonian troops conquered Sumer, won a number of victories over the northern states, including
over the state of Mari, located west of the Euphrates. The main monument of this period is
Code of Hammurabi. The state, as the largest landowner, was interested in further
the latest development of irrigated agriculture. Measures were taken to clear old canals, construct
A few days ago, I remembered that there was a city of Babylon, which was considered the largest and most beautiful city in the world, and I became interested in what was left of it today. And there is a lot left. (By the way, let me remind you, I did a similar one almost two months ago).
Briefly about Babylon - a city that was located (from my memory) 70 km south of today's Baghdad, on the eternal river Euphrates. It has been known since about 2000 BC. e., but already at the beginning new era ceased to exist due to various circumstances. The most famous king of Babylon (a country centered in the city of Babylon) was Hamurappi, who ruled in the 18th century BC. and gave the country (and the world) a lot of innovations and an impetus to development, including the most famous - the Code of Laws. Later, Babylon was conquered by Assyria, who established dominance in Mesopotamia for many centuries, but by the 7th century BC. e. Assyria fell with the direct participation of Babylon itself. This was followed by the second "golden age" of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon subjugated all of Mesopotamia and the Middle East. However, later the country was conquered by Achaemenid Persia (which, however, did not interfere with the development of the city), but by the 4th century it was conquered by Macedonian and subsequently gradually ceased to exist.
The word Babylon to some extent has become a household word, a designation of greatness. It should also be noted important role introduced by Babylon into science. 3,000 years ago, the first abacus, the abacus, was invented in Babylon. Initially, the counting system in Babylon was 60, if memory serves. In Babylon they invented moon calendar and 7 day week. Also invented in Babylon, a solar, water clock. The usual names of the stars are Sirius, Orion, also Babylonian. The first world geographical map, also Babylonian, although called geographic Maps I would not become a Babylonian invention. By the way, Armenia is also on this map. - This is the same card, in the shape of a star.
Sunset in Babylon (painting by Raphael Lacoste). The painting shows the construction of the Tower of Babel, with the Hanging Gardens in the background. 
I think everyone knows about the Hanging Gardens. Briefly about the Tower of Babel, which formed the basis of the biblical myth. Many similar towers were built in Babylon, but the tallest of them reached, as it is now believed, 91 m in height, and possibly more. Jews resettled by the Assyrians in Mesopotamia in the 7th century BC. e. they saw the tower and saw in it a rebellion against God, a desire to reach heaven, because for those times it was a colossal structure. Most likely destroyed by an earthquake. As I recently found out, the building of the European Parliament was built on the model of the Tower of Babel, which is quite remarkable :)
Now briefly about the population of Babylon.
Like a city on world stage he came to the fore in the 18th century BC. Already by 1600, it became the second in the then world after the Egyptian Avaris. The population of Babylon was 60 thousand people (Avaris - 100 thousand). Then followed the decline of Babylon. The city revived relatively by the 11th century BC and again became one of the largest cities, its population was 45 thousand people. By 800 B.C. e., after two centuries, the population of Babylon increased by only 2 thousand, amounting to 47 thousand people, and by 650 BC. - already 60 thousand people. Interestingly, Babylon reached its peak already during the period of Achaemenid Persia (my article on Achaemenid Persia and its relationship with Armenia, with historical maps, can be viewed). According to Chandler, from "Tables of World" s Largest Cities 2250 B.C. - 1975", the population of Babylon by 430 BC amounted to 200 thousand people. At that moment, Babylon was largest city in the world, overtaking such cities as Athens (155 thousand), Sicilian Syracuse and many others. etc. The greatness of Babylon was put to an end at the end of the 4th century. BC e., in 312 its population was resettled by one of the generals of Alexander. By 200 B.C. Babylon has significantly lost its position. Only 60 thousand people remained, and after another three hundred years - even fewer. Subsequently, he finally ceased to exist. It should be noted that Babylon was very big city, hardly inferior in this to today's New York. The population of Babylonia itself (Babylonians) is referred to in the Bible as the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans were among the first to adopt Christianity. After the invasion of the Arabs in the 7th century, the Christian interfluve fell and the Arabs made up the majority there, at the same time Muslimizing the population and forcing out those who did not want to convert to Islam. To this day, the Chaldeans are usually united in one ethno-religious group with the Assyrians (Assyro-Chaldeans). They live mainly in Iraq and in diasporas in the United States, Scandinavian countries and etc.
Babylonian lion
Ishtar Gate, reconstructed today
Gatekeeper statue from Nemrut Palace, 9th century BC
Illustration of the royal procession in front of the entrance to Babylon, Ishtar Gate
Reconstruction of the Tower of Babel and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder "Tower of Babel"
European Parliament building
Law Code of Hammurabi
This is what the Hanging Gardens probably looked like.
General view of Babylon. tower of babel on the left, further the Ishtar gate, on the right, the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.
Walls of Babylon. We walk along the ancient road.
Walls of Babylon, Pergamon Museum, Berlin (
